Object-securable article-carrier apparatus and kit

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments of an object-securable article-carrier clip apparatus comprise a grip subassembly, and an object securement subassembly for robustly securing the grip subassembly to an object such as a piece of luggage. The grip subassembly has a mouth portion configured to grippingly retain an article, such as a garment, and may include an auxiliary support portion to supportingly receive a supportive component of the article, such as a coat hanger or bag strap. The auxiliary support portion may feature an article support groove with an opening opposite of the mouth portion. A luggage item with extendable handle may have a clip apparatus permanently affixed to the handle, and the grip subassembly may be at least partially received by a recess in the handle. An article-carrier kit may include a clip apparatus, and an article strap subsystem to further secure the article to the object during transport of the object.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An object-securable article-carrier clip apparatus comprising:
 a grip subassembly including
 (a) a first grip element and a second grip element pivotably attached to one another about a pivot axis, thereby allowing pivoting movement of the second grip element between a grip position and a release position with respect to the first grip element, the second grip element being resiliently biased toward the grip position; 
 (b) a mouth portion defined between the first and second grip elements, the mouth portion being configured to receive and release a said article when the second grip element is in the release position, the mouth portion being configured to grippingly retain the article when the second grip element is in the grip position; and 
 (c) an auxiliary support portion configured to suspendingly receive a supportive component of the article; and 
 
 an object securement subassembly configured to secure the grip subassembly to an object; 
 wherein the grip subassembly is affixed to a handle portion of the object and the auxiliary support portion includes an article support groove which opens oppositely of the mouth portion. 
 
     
     
       2. An object-securable article-carrier clip apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the article support groove is formed integrally with the second grip element. 
     
     
       3. An object-securable article-carrier clip apparatus comprising:
 a grip subassembly including
 (a) a first grip element and a second grip element pivotably attached to one another about a pivot axis, thereby allowing pivoting movement of the second grip element between a grip position and a release position with respect to the first grip element, the second grip element being resiliently biased toward the grip position; 
 (b) a mouth portion defined between the first and second grip elements, the mouth portion being configured to receive and release a said article when the second grip element is in the release position, the mouth portion being configured to grippingly retain the article when the second grip element is in the grip position; and 
 (c) an auxiliary support portion configured to suspendingly receive a supportive component of the article; and 
 
 an object securement subassembly configured to secure the grip subassembly to an object; 
 wherein the grip subassembly is affixed to a handle portion of the object and the auxiliary support portion includes an article retention lip which extends oppositely of the mouth portion. 
 
     
     
       4. An object-securable article-carrier clip apparatus as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the article retention lip is formed integrally with the second grip element. 
     
     
       5. An object-securable article-carrier clip apparatus comprising:
 a grip subassembly including
 (a) a first grip element and a second grip element pivotably attached to one another about a pivot axis, thereby allowing pivoting movement of the second grip element between a grip position and a release position with respect to the first grip element, the second grip element being resiliently biased toward the grip position; 
 (b) a mouth portion defined between the first and second grip elements, the mouth portion being configured to receive and release a said article when the second grip element is in the release position, the mouth portion being configured to grippingly retain the article when the second grip element is in the grip position; and 
 (c) an auxiliary support portion configured to suspendingly receive a supportive component of the article; and 
 
 an object securement subassembly configured to secure the grip subassembly to an object; 
 wherein the grip subassembly is affixed to a handle portion of the object and the object securement subassembly includes at least one securement clamp element actuatable between clamping and unclamping configurations. 
 
     
     
       6. An object-securable article-carrier clip apparatus as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the actuation is a threaded actuation. 
     
     
       7. An object-securable article-carrier clip apparatus as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the securement clamp element is connected to the grip subassembly by way of a clamp extension arm. 
     
     
       8. An object-securable article-carrier clip apparatus as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the securement clamp element is attached to the first grip element. 
     
     
       9. An object-securable article-carrier clip apparatus as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the securement clamp element is at least partially pivotable with respect to the grip subassembly. 
     
     
       10. An object-securable article-carrier clip apparatus comprising:
 a grip subassembly including
 (a) a first grip element and a second grip element pivotably attached to one another about a pivot axis, thereby allowing pivoting movement of the second grip element between a grip position and a release position with respect to the first grip element, the second grip element being resiliently biased toward the grip position; 
 (b) a mouth portion defined between the first and second grip elements, the mouth portion being configured to receive and release a said article when the second grip element is in the release position, the mouth portion being configured to grippingly retain the article when the second grip element is in the grip position; and 
 (c) an auxiliary support portion configured to suspendingly receive a supportive component of the article; and 
 
 an object securement subassembly configured to secure the grip subassembly to an object; 
 wherein
 (i) the object securement subassembly includes at least one securement clamp element actuatable between clamping and unclamping configurations, and 
 (ii) the securement clamp element is connected to the grip subassembly at the pivot axis. 
 
 
     
     
       11. An object-securable article-carrier clip apparatus as comprising:
 a grip subassembly including
 (a) a first grip element and a second grip element pivotably attached to one another about a pivot axis, thereby allowing pivoting movement of the second grip element between a grip position and a release position with respect to the first grip element, the second grip element being resiliently biased toward the grip position; 
 (b) a mouth portion defined between the first and second grip elements, the mouth portion being configured to receive and release a said article when the second grip element is in the release position, the mouth portion being configured to grippingly retain the article when the second grip element is in the grip position; and 
 (c) an auxiliary support portion configured to suspendingly receive a supportive component of the article; and 
 
 an object securement subassembly configured to secure the grip subassembly to an object; 
 wherein the grip subassembly is affixed to a handle portion of the object and is at least partially received by a recess in the handle portion. 
 
     
     
       12. A luggage item having an extendable handle portion, the luggage item comprising:
 an object-securable article-carrier clip apparatus having
 a grip subassembly including
 (a) a first grip element and a second grip element pivotably attached to one another about a pivot axis, thereby allowing pivoting movement of the second grip element between a grip position and a release position with respect to the first grip element, the second grip element being resiliently biased toward the grip position; and 
 (b) a mouth portion defined between the first and second grip elements, the mouth portion being configured to receive and release a said article when the second grip element is in the release position, the mouth portion being configured to grippingly retain the article when the second grip element is in the grip position; and 
 
 an auxiliary support portion having an article retention lip which extends 
 oppositely of the mouth portion; 
 
 wherein the grip subassembly is affixed to the handle portion. 
 
     
     
       13. A luggage item having an extendable handle portion, the luggage item comprising:
 an object-securable article-carrier clip apparatus having
 a grip subassembly including
 (a) a first grip element and a second grip element pivotably attached to one another about a pivot axis, thereby allowing pivoting movement of the second grip element between a grip position and a release position with respect to the first grip element, the second grip element being resiliently biased toward the grip position; and 
 (b) a mouth portion defined between the first and second grip elements, the mouth portion being configured to receive and release a said article when the second grip element is in the release position, the mouth portion being configured to grippingly retain the article when the second grip element is in the grip position; 
 
 
 wherein the grip subassembly is affixed to the handle portion and at least partially received by a recess in the handle portion. 
 
     
     
       14. A luggage item as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the second grip element at least partially protrudes outwardly of the handle portion when the second grip element is in the grip position. 
     
     
       15. A luggage item as defined in  claim 14 , wherein
 (a) the grip subassembly includes an auxiliary support portion configured to suspendingly receive a supportive component of the article; and 
 (b) the auxiliary support portion is at least partially exposed outwardly of the handle portion when the second grip element is in the grip position.